It
had taken all evening just to get there. Dodging in and out of
corridors
to get out, and even then the amount of patience it took to weave her
way
in and out of the guardians. The allies and gang streets were the
easy part. They rarely touched her. Even when they did, she
could handle it. Or, sometimes better, she'd leave them
marked.
Then they'd meet a fit end, to put it lightly.
Ducking
into
the familiar doorway, she slowly descended the ladder. She
didn't
even need light anymore, keeping her eyes closed even from the faint
stars.
She knew where she was going, and she could get there by touch
alone.
A hop here and a sideways dash there, all things dangerous or improper
were avoided. No one else came down here. No one else had
this
fortune that she did.
At
last,
her destination. She opened her eyes only then and sat
squarely
on the cool cement. Waiting. Watching. Listening to
the
dankness and the sounds of water and creatures that were
unkillable.
The smell was little more than unpleasant, but that was alright.
It was familiar.
Finally,
the
movement. A creature loomed slick from the shadows and toward
her, settling itself right in front of her. Anyone else would see
a sickly beggar boy so filthy that the missing flesh could not even be
interpreted. She, thankfully, saw him for what he was and smiled.
"It's
good
to see you again." He matched her smile warmly, pulling the
jet black sunglasses from his face. Underneath was a wealth of
glowing
blue from two metal-edged eye sockets.
"I
wasn't
sure I'd get away tonight, either." She admitted
quietly.
"The Tower hasn't turned in days."
He
nodded,
understanding. "That's a danger, yes. And how does
the Duke of Eckhart do?"
She
laughed
at the use of their nickname for him. "The same, I'm
afraid."
He
looked
her over for a moment, inspecting the damage. "But you are
better now?"
"Yes."
She
rubbed the back of her neck a little nervously. "He had
company
and no time."
"He
asks
of me?" the boy spread his arms to welcome her.
She
smiled
and leaned into the embrace gratefully, letting herself relax in
his arms. "Every day."
He
waited
until she was comfortable, her breathing stilled and her heart
beat
slowly. When all was in order, the spine in his forearm extended
and he pierced her flesh down to the rib to gather the marrow.
She
flinched,
but only slightly. His comfort alone took away the
pain.
It was not at all like Eckhart. She felt the spine retract slowly
to take in blood before being pulled completely away from her, the hole
in her flesh sealed with a tiny jet of bioadhesive.
"And
you
are working?" he questioned, leaning her back just a bit.
"I
can
lift much more now." She admitted modestly. "And I can
run further."
"Perfect."
He
purred, tilting his head for a kiss.
She
leaned
in and accepted, pressing her lips to his and opening her mouth
slightly. She swallowed the familiar concoction he injected
quickly,
the bitter taste never settling well in her stomach but far less so on
her tongue. Digestion was merely the easiest process to do this
by,
they'd found. A straight injection made her far too weak--stomach
acid helped to take away the initial jolt.
"Be
careful
now." He warned, pulling away from her slowly. "I
need
you alive."
"I
know."
She whispered, smiling despite the taste in her
mouth.
"I'll be back when I can."
"Will
he
catch you, do you think?" the boy asked gingerly, a worried
expression
overcoming the features that glowed blue against perfect darkness.
"Probably."
She
admitted. "But it's... it's easier now. Really."
There
was
nothing more he could do for her, and he let the subject slip
away.
"I will see you soon."
She
nodded
quickly, waved a quick good-bye, and bounded off in the
memorized
darkness. There was still a chance she wouldn't get caught out of
the Tower if she hurried.
The
boy
sighed quietly to himself, replacing the sunglasses.
Stronger,
she was. But that bastard would catch on soon enough, assuming he
hadn't already. She was in danger... but this was the best they
could
do for one another.